Suspicious item at North Greenwich tube which sparked mass evacuation destroyed in controlled explosion
Station remains closed as officers investigate
COUNTER Terrorism cops have launched an investigation after a suspicious item sparked a major security alert at an east London station today.
Police swarmed North Greenwich station, close to the O2, evacuating passengers and setting up a large cordon shortly after 11am today.
A bomb squad carried out a controlled detonation of the suspicious item - but the station remains closed while officers investigate.
A spokesman for British Transport Police said: "Just after 11am today we were called to North Greenwich station after train staff reported finding a suspicious item on board a eastbound Jubilee Line train.
"Specialist officers from BTP and Metropolitan Police attended the scene. As a precaution a controlled detonation has since taken place in order to ensure the item was safe.
"An investigation is now underway led by the Metropolitan Police supported by BTP.
"The station remains closed as enquiries continue and we encourage people to check with Transport for London before travelling."
Met police added: "While we are keeping an open mind, the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command is leading the investigation because it has the expertise to deal with incidents of this kind. British Transport Police is supporting them in their investigation.
"We continue to encourage the public to remain vigilant and alert at all times and report anything suspicious to police."
Earlier today student Reece Crawford, 20, told The Sun Online: "They set up an original cordon and then within about 10 or 15 minutes moved it back and blocked off half the doors to the O2.
"I have been told that they are stopping buses at the Millennium Village.
"It's just red tape and lots of O2 staff and police wondering around. Normally things like this are over quite quickly but it's gone on for a while."
The Jubilee Line has severe delays and buses are not serving the area.
The 02 remains open - although the cordon is blocking some entrances but The Up at The O2 attraction has been closed.
A performance by Nickelback set to take place tonight will go ahead and audience members have been advised to check their routes before travelling.
Anyone who saw anything suspicious on this particular train or anywhere else is urged to call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321, in an emergency always call 999.
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